Thugs throw bottles at police and launch flares onto Winston Churchill statue in second night of violence over death of three girls in Southport after ugly riots outside mosque left dozens of officers injured
Clashes have erupted between right-wing protesters and police in London amid a second night of violence over the death of three girls in the Southport knife rampage.
Police were forced to put on riot gear after chanting activists threw cans and launched flares outside Downing Street as tensions continue to grow following the stabbing frenzy at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday.
Tributes have poured in for the three girls killed who police yesterday named as six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Eight other children suffered stab wounds in the bloodbath. Five are in a critical condition, as are two women who bravely tried to save the children.
A 17-year-old boy, originally from Cardiff but living in nearby Banks, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
False speculation online that the suspect is an asylum seeker who had travelled to the UK on a boat appeared to fuel the shocking riots outside a mosque in Southport last night. He cannot be identified because he is under the age of 18.
Southport locals – including Elsie’s mother – have called for the violence to stop after police vans were torched and bricks were hurled in violence that left 53 officers injured.
But a huge protest has broken out in London, riot police were pelted with missiles in Hartlepool, County Durham, and glass bottles were thrown at a police van by masked thugs in Manchester.
Around 1,000 right-wing activists descended on Whitehall this evening, with some waving a Union Jack flag banner with the words: ‘Enough is enough. Stop the boats.’
Huge scuffles between police and protesters have broken out, with officers wrestling activists to the ground and leading them away in handcuffs after they tried to breach police lines.
Loud chants of ‘Oh Tommy Robinson’ and ‘we want our country back’ were also heard as protesters surrounded The Cenotaph, despite police vans trying to protect the war memorial on Whitehall.
Violence has erupted on the streets of London as flag-waving protesters clash with police
A furious protester lifts up the mask of a riot policeman’s helmet amid growing tensions
Protesters hold a Union Jack banner which says: ‘Enough is enough. Stop the boats.’ They were also wearing t-shirts with the faces of the three girls who died in Southport
Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against illegal immigration outside of Downing Stree
A protester draped in a Union Jack flag was seen mounting a traffic light in front of an army of riot police officers
Hundreds of protesters gather on Whitehall – days after the Southport knife rampage
Met Police officers clash with protesters as ugly scenes break out in Whitehall on Wednesday
Police officers were forced to put on riot gear as they try to deal with the breakouts of violence
A group of protesters, many with Union Jack and England flags, clash with police outside Downing Street
Protesters drinking Stella Artois march through the capital on Wednesday night
Some were seen lighting red flares as they chanted down Whitehall on Wednesday
Protesters were seen wearing t-shirts with the faces of the three Southport victims on
Protesters wearing England flags scuffle with police officers as more clashes grip the UK
Huge clashes broke out between riot police officers and right-wing thugs
People attending the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Whitehall, London, following the fatal stabbing of three children
Dozens of riot police officers try to guard the area as violence erupted on the streets
Furious thugs clash with riot police during the Enough is Enough protest outside Downing Street
Southport locals have called on rioters to leave their town after Tuesday night’s violence
Beer cans and glass bottles were launched at a line of police in riot gear who have assembled to block Whitehall in front of Downing Street. Other protesters have attempted to kick down a fence and were confronted by riot police.
Some activists were wearing red caps which said ‘Make Britain Great Again’ – a reference to Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement.
Others wore t-shirts calling for English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson to be Home Secretary and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to be Prime Minister.
Many protesters were draped in England flags as the Enough Is Enough protest got underway shortly after 7pm.
One with a Union Jack flag wrapped around him was seen mounting a traffic light in front of an army of riot police officers.
Shortly after 7pm, the protesters – many of whom were drinking alcohol – began marching towards Parliament Square.
A few hundred protesters chanting ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘save our kids’ and ‘stop the boats’ attempted to leave the pavement opposite Downing Street in defiance of strict Metropolitan Police conditions on the protest.
The Metropolitan Police has said demonstrators taking part have to stay within a certain area and must leave at 8.30pm.
HARTLEPOOL: There were also clashes in County Durham as police faced rioters
HARTLEPOOL: Dozens were arrested as violence spilled out onto the streets in Murray Street
HARTLEPOOL: A protester charges at riot police as violence broke out in different parts of the country
Police officers detrain a protestor during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration on Whitehall
Another protester is detained on Whitehall as ugly violence broke out for a second night running
A protesting thug gets up close and personal with a riot police officer amid the clashes
A protester is held back by others as he clashes with a female riot police officer on Whitehall
A can of Stella is launched at a riot police officer as ugly scenes break out in Whitehall
Police detained several protesters in amongst the chaotic scenes
Riot police officers usher protesters away as violence hit the capital on Wednesday night
Protesters and riot police officers scuffle as the Met tries to control the ugly scenes
Police officers clash with protesters during the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Whitehall
Riot police have surrounded the protesters in London this evening
Another protester is detained by police in Whitehall
Ugly scenes have broken out in London tonight as more protests took place following the fatal stabbings
Protesters try to break through a barrier as riot police wearing helmets try to control the violence
There have been more ugly scenes in Britain tonight in the latest riot since a mosque in Southport was targeted last night
A protester is knocked to the ground as scuffles break out between police and activists
Protesters chant in front of police with Big Ben visible in the background
A protester is detained by police during the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Whitehall
A placard read ‘Stop The Boats’ and ‘Save Our Children’ ahead of the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest
Protesters clash with police officers on Whitehall, with England flags seen in the background
Some activists were wearing red caps which said ‘Make Britain Great Again’ – a reference to Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ movement
Others wore t-shirts calling for English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson to be Home Secretary and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to be Prime Minister
Some activists were seen carrying cans of Stella Artois as the protest got underway
Many protesters were seen draped in England flags as the protest got underway
People assemble at the start of the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Whitehall, London
Police vans are protecting the Cenotaph on Whitehall amid fears violence could break out
Some protesters were seen in England football shirts chanting outside Downing Street
A protester wearing a Union Jack t-shirt and holding an England flag on Whitehall
Protesters forced police to put riot gear on as they threw cans at police outside Downing Street. But that didn’t stop one protester, who confronted one police officer and lifted up the mask of his helmet with his finger.
They also threw flares on to the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and shouted abuse at nearby pro-Ukrainian demonstrators and police.
More than a dozen protesters have been detained by police on Whitehall. Officers led many of the men away in handcuffs.
A police helicopter was also seen flying over Downing Street amid the unrest.
Around an hour into the protest, activists started trying to break a police line on Whitehall ato access Parliament Square. More bottles and cans were being thrown at police in riot gear who were desperately trying to hold off the protesters.
Activists then attempted to kick down a fence to circumvent a police line on Whitehall. Others ran past police towards Trafalgar Square and police formed a new line outside the Cabinet Office.
The protest was promoted by actor Laurence Fox on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
Superintendent Neil Holyoak, who is leading the policing of the protest, said: ‘Following the tragic events in Southport, it is understandable the public have strong feelings about this shocking incident – but the subsequent violent, unlawful disorder that unfolded was completely unacceptable and driven by misinformation.
‘Everyone has a right to protest and we continue to balance the right to lawful protest with everyone’s right to go about their lives without fear or serious disruption – which is why we have put conditions in place and deployed more officers across London.
‘We are speaking to the protest organisers as well as local community groups, businesses and religious leaders, in particular the Muslim community who have been impacted by this week’s disorder in Southport.
‘I urge everyone to exercise their right to protest calmly and within the law. Any disorder will be dealt with swiftly.’
A woman is detained by police officers as people attend the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest
Another woman is pinned to the floor by riot police officers at the protest
She was then hauled away by police
Another scuffle breaks out as violent scenes went on into this evening in London
A protester is pinned to the ground and detained by riot police
A group of men started clashing in front of the Wintson Churchill statue
A protester is surrounded by riot police in Whitehall
Another protester is swiftly dealt with by a group of riot police officers in London
People attending the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Parliament Square, London,
A man holding a can of beer is led away in handcuffs by riot police
It comes after Jenni Stancombe, the mother of little Elsie who died in the Southport stabbings, pleaded for the violence to end on social media.
She said: ‘This is the only thing that I will write, but please stop the violence in Southport tonight.
‘The police have been nothing but heroic these last 24 hours and they and we don’t need this.’
Back in Southport, where the grieving community was clearing up the damage from the riots today, a poster was put up which said: ‘Leave our town. We don’t need this.’
Police officers from around the country have gathered in Southport in preparation of any disturbances.
SOUTHPORT: Riot police hold back protesters near a burning police vehicle after disorder broke out on Tuesday night
SOUTHPORT: A police van was set on fire near a mosque in Southport on Tuesday evening as riots broke out
SOUTHPORT: Protesters cheer as they launch bins at riot police vans amid ugly scenes on Tuesday
Police officers from around the country gather in Southport in preparation of any disturbances
There are fears that more violence could break out in Southport
Police vans, cars and horses have been deployed to the town in preparation of any disturbance.
Some 53 officers were injured in the violence – which police believe was started by supporters of the far-right EDL group.
The mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, told Sky News earlier that he does not believe there will be more violence tonight.
But as well as London, there were scenes of chaos in Hartlepool where thugs were seen throwing objects at riot police and striking their shields.
Missiles were hurled at the police who are braced for attacks with shields after hundreds gathered in the town centre.
Officers shut off a large section of Murray Street, a busy road full of takeaways and shops.
It is understood the Salaam Community Centre is under threat and police are working to keep the area safe.
Rioters were also filmed shouting racist chants. Many had their faces covered and aggressively clapped their hands and waved their arms in the air during the violence.
A spokesperson for Hartlepool Police said: ‘There remains a policing presence in the Murray Street area while officers deal with disorder after responding to a protest – several arrests have already been made.
‘The road is still closed and people are advised to avoid the area.’
MP for Hartlepool Jonathan Brash issued a statement which read: ‘I’m deeply concerned about the situation that is developing in Hartlepool this evening.
‘I will be meeting with police to discuss the response to this incident and would urge calm to allow our emergency services to do their job.
‘These events do not represent what Hartlepool is or the values that our people hold. Violence is never the answer.’
Other footage emerged of a group of thugs, some masked, launching glass bottles at riot police and vans. It is understood they were targeting a hotel where migrants are believed to be housed.